The victims of terrorism directed against Jews worldwide will be commemorated by the State of Israel at a Mt. Herzl site, alongside the central memorial for Israel's civilian terrorist victims. This recommendation was made by the Ministerial Committee for Ceremonies and Symbols, chaired by Minister Danny Naveh, and the Committee for Diaspora Affairs chaired by Minister Natan Sharansky. The decision was made yesterday at a joint meeting of the two committees, following the initiative of Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman Sallai Meridor.
According to the proposal, the memorial for those killed in terrorist attacks in Israel, situated on Mt. Herzl, will be extended to include a site for the victims of terror directed against Jewish targets in the Diaspora.
Natan Sharansky, Minister for Jerusalem, Social and Diaspora Affairs, will head a committee to work with all the relevant parties, including the National Association for the Victims of Arab Terror, in erecting the memorial site. The committee will design the site, including its architectural design, and coordinate funding to finance and maintain the site. It will also outline the format of the ceremony to commemorate the victims, in conjunction with the Jewish Agency, a representative of the Minister of Social Welfare and Diaspora Jewish organizations.
"A memorial for the victims of terrorist acts directed against Jews all over the world reflects the centrality of Israel and the country's overall responsibility for all Jews, as well as the shared fate of the State of Israel and the Jewish people," Sallai Meridor said at the committee meeting.
"During a recent visit to Argentina, I came to the realization that the attack that took place ten years ago still affects the community", said Sharansky. "The attack in Argentina was a direct continuation of the struggle against Israel, for which the Hizbullah and Iran were directly responsible. This is the face of the new anti-Semitism, which makes no distinction between the struggle against Jews and activity directed against the State of Israel."
At the meeting, Minister Danny Naveh said: "The terrorists have one goal, and that is to harm Jews wherever they are, both in Israel and worldwide. Commemorating the victims of terror from communities in all parts of the world reaffirms the importance that Israel attaches to its relationship with Jews worldwide and to our being a united people, including in the war against terror."
According to the proposal, the memorial for those killed in terrorist attacks in Israel, situated on Mt. Herzl, will be extended to include a site for the victims of terror directed against Jewish targets in the Diaspora.
Natan Sharansky, Minister for Jerusalem, Social and Diaspora Affairs, will head a committee to work with all the relevant parties, including the National Association for the Victims of Arab Terror, in erecting the memorial site. The committee will design the site, including its architectural design, and coordinate funding to finance and maintain the site. It will also outline the format of the ceremony to commemorate the victims, in conjunction with the Jewish Agency, a representative of the Minister of Social Welfare and Diaspora Jewish organizations.
"A memorial for the victims of terrorist acts directed against Jews all over the world reflects the centrality of Israel and the country's overall responsibility for all Jews, as well as the shared fate of the State of Israel and the Jewish people," Sallai Meridor said at the committee meeting.
"During a recent visit to Argentina, I came to the realization that the attack that took place ten years ago still affects the community", said Sharansky. "The attack in Argentina was a direct continuation of the struggle against Israel, for which the Hizbullah and Iran were directly responsible. This is the face of the new anti-Semitism, which makes no distinction between the struggle against Jews and activity directed against the State of Israel."
At the meeting, Minister Danny Naveh said: "The terrorists have one goal, and that is to harm Jews wherever they are, both in Israel and worldwide. Commemorating the victims of terror from communities in all parts of the world reaffirms the importance that Israel attaches to its relationship with Jews worldwide and to our being a united people, including in the war against terror."